TRIXXXIEFEST!
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| Poster designed by Liz Solo |
St. John’s, are you ready for TRIXXXIEFEST? If
the name hasn’t caught your attention, the eclectic line-up for June 12 to 15
in Newfoundland’s capital surely will. The first annual TRIXXXIEFEST is “a
vehicle to celebrate women working in the performing arts” but will include “uber-talented
men performing during the weekend as well,” says one of the festival’s
organizers, Liz Solo. And all proceeds from event tickets go directly to the
artists!
We caught up with Solo, a prolific, multi-disciplinary
artist, to find out more about what’s in store this Thursday to Sunday in St.
John’s.
Liz, first tell
us a little bit about yourself and what types of things are you up to?
LS: Life as a
Newfoundland artist is never dull and always challenging. I have been working
in digital media and online spaces and performance for a decade and done a fair
bit of travelling and international collaborating. Recently I have started
concentrating on live performance in the real world – sometimes bringing
elements of digital space into the live setting. I had a great time working
with dancer/choreographer Tammy MacLeod last year on a dance piece (for the
Festival of New Dance) that used interaction of the performer with a virtual
space. I’ve also been working to develop new musical acts, enjoying an intense
love affair with the drums, and working on a new multi-media studio project. I
am also almost ready to release my video “the machine” (years in the making!!)
What inspired
the creation of TRIXXXIEFEST?
LS: TRIXXXIEFEST
is the creation of the performance group TRIXXXIE (Tallulah Fucque, Scarlet
O’Whora and Marilyn Monroe Take-Out). The three long time friends and
collaborators formed the punk rock performance group last Fall and have worked
through the winter to develop their act. TRIXXXIE wanted to premiere in
the Spring, in the presence of strong women, and they created TRIXXXIEFEST as a
vehicle to celebrate women working in the performing arts (and also to satisfy
their monstrous egos!).
Who is involved
with TRIXXXIEFEST?
LS: TRIXXXIEFEST weekend
is being organized by myself, Charlotte Reid and Jenny Naish with the
assistance of the Black BagMedia Collective (who are supporting the event with gear, workspace
and an HQ for organizers) and the band TRIXXXIE. The
weekend is being presented by mine and Jenny’s Theatre Company Roles 4 Women Theatre in
cooperation with the BBMC.
TRIXXXIEFEST features
seventeen acts over three nights. We are doing one show each night in a
different venue. The weekend opens with a standup Comedy/Music night at Scanlan’s
Lounge on Water Street on Thursday June 12. The night is
hosted by the hilarious up and coming comedienne Amanda Batten and
will feature music and comedy performances starting at 9 PM. As Amanda
says – “Come see a very lippy, all lady, lineup”. Colleen Power, Liz Solo, Amanda
Batten, Sweater Kittens, Sam Burke, Danielle Trouble, Erin Simms and Jenny Naish will
all be performing.
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| Amanda Gosse of the band Category VI |
LS: Our Rock Shows start on Friday
June 13th at Distortion. Trixxxie will
premiere at this show – opening the night at 11 PM—followed by Category
VI, The River and The Sauce.
Our second Rock Show happens at
the Ship on Saturday June 14th starting at 10:30
PM with Allie Duff and the Happy Campers followed by DT
and the Dinosaurs and TRIXXXIE. Uneeda will
close out the night.
The Weekend ends with an informal Pop-Up Video
Screening and potluck/BBQ supper. In order to get access to this event you have
to come to TRIXXXIEFEST and talk to TRIXXXIE for a password and directions. We
are hoping this event will also be an informal networking session for the
artists involved in TRIXXXIEFEST.
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| Liz Solo and Mike Kean of The Sauce |
Who should come
to TRIXXXIEFEST?
LS: Anyone
(19+) interested in seeing Newfoundland artists performing original work in
comedy, rock music, solo acoustic music and live performance. The weekend will
showcase a cross section of talent in the City and, in particular, shine a
light on the amazing work that women performers are producing. There will, of
course, be many uber-talented men performing during the weekend as well, but
audiences can expect to hear amazing women’s voices out front.
We have programmed two shows to start a little
earlier – Thursday’s Comedy/Music night at Scanlan’s starts at 9PM and
the Saturday Ship shows starts at 10:30. We are hoping some of
the folks who find an 11 PM start too late will make it down for an hour or
two.
All profits from the shows go directly to the
artists, so by attending shows audiences will also be supporting local artists.
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| Allie Duff |
What can
audience members expect?
LS: If you
have not seen Erin Simms, Sam Burke, Danielle Trouble or Jenny Naish doing
their solo acoustic thing, the Scanlan’s show is a great opportunity to see a
diverse range of singers/songwriters performing in an intimate setting. These
are all powerfully talented artists with attitude. If you are hungering for a
few laughs and some truly alternative comedy by women artists then this show is
for you: Amanda Batten, Colleen Power, Liz Solo and The Sweater Kittens will be
performing original comedy routines.
Audiences can expect powerful Rock Shows
featuring a diverse range of acts from the rock genre – the lineups include the
melodic metal of Category VI and the pop/rock awesomeness of Allie Duff and the
Happy Campers; the crazy riffage and refreshing originality of punk/rock artist
Danielle Trouble and her band DT and the Dinosaurs and the unique and
harmonious metal/punk cross over sound of Uneeda; the deep, sultry power of the
blues from Suzanne Power and her new band The River and the harmony laden
alt/country/rock/folk/punk sound of the brand new act, The Sauce.
PLUS the world premiere of the comedy/music act
Sweater Kittens and the punk rock performance act TRIXXXIE.
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| Uneeda |
What
makes TRIXXXIEFEST different from other events/festivals?
LS: TRIXXXIEFEST
is a fun-time, St. John’s-centric event that highlights and celebrates women artists
working here and now.
Is there
anything you would like to add?
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| Poster designed by James Rose |
LS: TRIXXXIEFEST
was created in the spirit of fun. The organizers are stoked and can’t wait for
the festivities to begin.
TRIXXXIEFEST
TRIXXXIE
